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Government Package to help small businesses grow.
As requested by the Government, the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), formerly the Patent Office, made 11 per cent savings earlier this year. The Intellectual Property Minister, Baroness Wilcox, has announced that half of the more than £3 million savings will be used by the Technology Strategy Board (the Governments main channel for promoting innovation) to support projects with a significant IP element. The rest of the savings will be re-invested in measures leading to greater efficiencies within the IPO. Read more...
European Order Payment Procedure
For businesses that trade internationally, receiving payment for goods and services can be potentially problematic. Thousands of businesses never receive what they are rightly owed from bad debtors. The latter can even cause some businesses to fail. Read more...
General Guidelines For Online Suppliers Of Goods/Services
When supplying good and/or services online there are many issues to consider, not least ensuring that you comply with all relevant legislation and regulations including the Disance Selling Regulations 2000 (DSRs) and the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (SGA). You cannot exclude the application of the DSRs or the SGA. Even if your terms and conditons include a "no returns" provision, such terms have no legal effect. The DSR will always supersede any express term seeking to exclude their effect. Read more...
Cookies will require Consent from April 2011.
Cookies are computer links which allow website owners and advertisers to track an individual's behaviour on a particular computer. In a controversial revision of the EU E-Privacy Directive (2002/58/EC) this year, consumers will be required to "opt in" rather than "opt out" of having cookies placed on their computers. Read more...
Independent Review of Intellectual Property Laws
Mr Cameron has announced that there is going to be an independent six months review, due to report in April 2011, of Britain's Intellectual Property (IP) laws to make them fit for the internet age. He said that he wants to make Britain the most attractive place in the world to start and invest in innovative technology companies. The aim of the review is to identify barriers to growth and to ensure that the IP system encourages creative and high-tech innovation and supports growth. Read more...